The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1887-07-15
uiAMono cuTTlno.
American work said to BE Better Thar
That Done at Amsterdam

American work said to BE Better Thnn
That Done at Amsterdam.
ITO what extent has diamond-cuf-
ting been developed In this country? ~
was the query put by the writer to q
leading diamond merchant on Maiden
lane
..Well. was the reply, as yet it can
hardly be considered as an element In
our diamond business. II is, in fact.
in its infancy, and its beginning dates
back scarcely more than fifteen years
presume there are not two hundred
persons at the most engaged in this
branch of the diamond trade, and they
are confined chiefly TO this city and
Boston. There are but few foreigners
among them, for large number of
American boys have been educated to
the trade within recent years. An
apprenticeship is served, think, in
about three years. It is not likely.
however. that the work of polishin
and cutting diamonds will acquire any
substantial position in this country for
many years to come, mainly because
labor is so much cheaper in Amster-
dam, where whole families are engaged
in this trade. Whenever the demand
for the stones is Iessened. these can
and do reduce the price to figure with
which it would be utterly impossible
for Americans to compete. Tt would,
of course, be great advantage If we
could bring the diamond here in its
rough state in large quantities, as
we would thereby save the duty of ten
per cent charged on the cut soones.
But at the present tiIze the quantity Of
rough diamonds imported is not suffi-
cient to make any sppreciable differ
enee in the price, or TO infiuvnce tile
market in any respect
There is no doubt about our excel
lency in cutting stones We hare de-
yeloped style which to a certain ex-
tent sacrifices material in shaping the
stone but it obtains thereby the best
effect This is what Is most desired.
The credit of the Introduction of this
new style is largely due TO Boston
man, who was also the first 70 instruct
American boys in the art of cutting and
polishing We have also made some
Improvements in machinery, but the
best laps for polishing diamonds are
still imported from Amsterdam
The wages paid 10 these diamond
cutters may be considered high, and
the more skilled workmeu are paid az
so much per carat in the rough. The
workInen must have good judgment
as to the form in which the stone win
cut the best Sometimes a great deal
must be cut from the rough stone to
get rid Of inlperfections. and again it is
preferable TO save material BY leaving
fnsss. His judgment must decide
whether fse stone viii be more Fals-
| bic when snaII saoflf-a fasz,
when larger with the faH IS
general thing there are al
ways imperfections IN the rough s50nes,
and the main thing to be Observed IN
buying them Is whether the laws can
be easily eradieated. Cur citr has not
yet attained the dignity Of being 3
market for rough stones. and We Sill
90 to Amsterdam. London and Paris
for our supplies -
YES. there are more diamonds sold
in this country than ever before. but
the increase of dealers has been in
much larger proportion than that of the
consumers The demand at present Is
mostly for small diamonds for making
up into ornaments. ~ 7. Commercial
/ Gazette.